Schools and parents across the country are bracing for the fallout of President Trump’s escalating tariff policies, especially as the new academic year looms and economic uncertainty continues to build. With tariffs now in flux currently paused for 90 days on many countries but still firmly in place at a 10 percent baseline rate for most imports and up to 145 percent on Chinese goods the unpredictability is putting both educators and families in a tough position.
Karl Rectanus, a former educator and school administrator, said the consequences of the ongoing tariff battle could ripple through multiple layers of school operations from cafeteria food to classroom technology. “It definitely will impact school districts and states in a number of different ways,” he noted, adding that many schools are facing tough decisions about whether to make purchases now or hold off in hopes that the situation stabilizes.
Trump launched his tariff push on day one of his second term, signing an executive order that slapped 25 percent duties on imports from Canada and Mexico. What followed was a series of tariff announcements, pauses, and reinstatements affecting even America’s closest allies. While markets have been rattled by the instability, the Trump administration insists the approach is forcing foreign governments to the negotiating table.
For school officials, however, the real challenge lies in planning. “Should [schools] be refreshing? Should we buy quickly? Should we wait? What is the tariff? Is it going to be 145 percent or is it going to be paused? Impossible to tell,” said Rectanus. “So, there’s a lot of confusion and lack of clarity on what they should do.”
Most school district budgets roughly 90 percent go toward capital expenditures like transportation and staff salaries. The remaining 10 percent covers everything else, including food, curriculum materials, and basic classroom supplies. That sliver of the budget is now under serious strain.
Adding to the concern, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently warned of slower economic growth and higher prices throughout the year, driven in part by Trump’s tariff policies. That forecast sent markets tumbling and reignited tensions between Trump and Powell, with the president publicly threatening to fire the Fed chair something Powell argues would be legally indefensible.
Suppliers that cater to schools are also feeling the heat. Sara Kloek, vice president for education and children’s policy at the Software & Information Industry Association, said tariff fluctuations are making it difficult for companies to offer firm prices. “It’s hard to get even a firm price when they are bringing in products from overseas,” Kloek said, pointing out that the impact isn’t limited to technology it includes paper, pencils, and even crayons.
As Trump pursues sweeping reforms to education policy, including the potential dismantling of the Department of Education, the uncertainty continues to mount. And with summer school and fall shopping around the corner, families are growing increasingly anxious.
“We don’t know if that box of crayons is going to be more expensive in Target in August and September,” Kloek warned. “There are students that are going to be in school over the summer. So if schools or parents need to purchase supplies and the prices have increased, or they need to buy things that are directly impacted by tariffs in place today, they will probably be more expensive.”